Diagsheet

2014 Ford Focus · symptom sheet

Power steering cuts out or goes heavy

  • 134owner reports
  • 59,000median miles
  • $2,100median quote
  • 5involved a crash

Newest report Aug 6, 2026 · checked Sep 9, 2026

204 of the 2,448 complaints on this car are about the steering system. 134 of those describe power steering loss.

Tick what matches of 134 reports

8
70
23
22
77

What got replaced

Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the steering rack (20 reports), the EPS motor or module (7 reports) and the column (6 reports).

Recalls and investigations

One recall on the steering system covers the 2014 model year. A recall on the same system isn't always the same failure, so read the defect text.

14V-514Aug 22, 2014
Do not drive Steering

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2014 Focus and C-Max vehicles manufactured August 8, 2014, to August 15, 2014. The affected vehicles may have steering gears that were incorrectly assembled.

Risk and remedy
Risk: The incorrectly manufactured steering gears may cause impaired steering, including the loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the steering gears, free of charge. The recall began on November 11, 2014. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-800-392-3673. Ford's number for this recall is 14S18.

What owners paid

17 of the 134 reports quote a price. Each dot is one quote. The middle half runs $1,900 to $2,500.

$1,900$2,100$2,500
$0k$2k$4k$6k$8k

When it happens

The middle half of failures fell between 42,000 and 85,000 miles, from the 117 reports that gave a mileage.

715
1316
1517
2318
1919
1620
1521
722
723
424
525
326

What owners wrote

“When I turned on my car the power steering said at fault and normally I could turn it off then turn it back on and it worked but after that time it never turned back on”

Filed Aug 6, 2026

“I was driving down the road when the car dinged and a yellow light came on the bottom of the dash and it said steering loss please pull over for safety reasons so I pulled over shut the car off waited a couple minutes and then turned the car back on and the light turned red and I had no power steering at all.”

Filed Jun 10, 2026

“The power steering went out while driving it. She could hardly turn the vehicle to get it to a parking spot. Vehicle needs a new steering assembly. My daughter drives this. So many other concerns about steering issues on this type of vehicle.”

Filed Oct 27, 2023

“The steering assist went out at approximately 27000 miles without any warning. I was heading out to work and the steering locked up and I had to manually turn the wheel but I needed a lot of strength to get it to turn. The vehicle went to a mechanic to be diagnosed, and I was told the steering rack and pinion had failed and needs replacing.”

Filed Feb 6, 2023 · 27,000 miles

Should you keep driving it?

This page can't tell you that. 5 of 134 reports involved a crash and 2 people were hurt. Owners who file are the ones who had a bad experience, and nobody checks their reports. If the problem affects steering, braking, power or a fire risk, treat it as a safety fault and have it inspected before a long or high-speed drive.

File your own report with NHTSA. Complaint counts are how a problem gets an investigation.

Other problems on this car